PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Letting go of insecurities and showing the true essence of my character. Over four weeks, I’ve made incredible strides toward excelling in my role on The Hampton Roads Show. At the start of my internship, it was evident that I was pretty nervous and exuded signs of apprehensiveness. Those feelings didn’t come about because of a lack of confidence, per se, that’s just who I am. It takes me a while to open up and get comfortable in a new environment. All of this was very new to me. Nonetheless, my determination to excel in my role took precedence over that fear and doubt.

“Never judge a book by its cover” is a metaphorical phrase suggesting that we should not judge a person solely based on their outward appearance. On Monday, Sept. 16, I not only surprised my supervisor, but also showed that I was more than capable of handling my responsibilities and exuded the characteristics of a leader. I learned more about creating graphics and writing scripts for the rundown, creating blog posts, studio prep, floor directing and mic-ing guests. This was beginning to be the start of something great! My passion lies in TV production, and I am finally beginning to embark on a beautiful journey.

Outside of The Hampton Roads Show, I shadowed producers from the newsroom and learned how to write news packages for upcoming shows. This experience, in particular, parlayed into my journalistic expertise with my writing for my university paper (The Spartan Echo). Utilizing essential tips when writing a story such as ensuring the first line brings the readers into the story, while the rest should be fact-based. I was sure to note that every story has a beginning, middle and end.

I look forward to seeing how far I progress in my writing as I progress throughout my internship. As always, stay tuned for more to come in the future!